A view of the ramp from Quay Street, on the left in photo, and the ramp from Interstate 787 north, that come together to exit onto Clinton Ave., seen here on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Albany, N.Y. A proposed park idea would turn the ramp from Quay Street into a park. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union) less

A view of the ramp from Quay Street, on the left in photo, and the ramp from Interstate 787 north, that come together to exit onto Clinton Ave., seen here on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Albany, N.Y. A proposed ... more

View from the Corning Tower of I-787 with the Dunn Memorial Bridge going over the Hudson River on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. Mayor Jerry Jennings has said publicly he?d like to demolish Interstate 787, a development dream far in the city?s future if on the horizon at all. Residents are expected to gather tonight to share their vision of what Albany?s waterfront should become, the first stage of a new city planning effort. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

View from the Corning Tower of I-787 with the Dunn Memorial Bridge going over the Hudson River on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. Mayor Jerry Jennings has said publicly he?d like to demolish Interstate

Albany Yacht Club. From back of photo: "Three of the 25 motor cruisers built at the Richardson yards in North Tonwanda, after they reached Albany Yacht Club yesterday. Owners 'drive away' their cruisers each spring, coming via canal to Albany and Downstate points." Taken June 6, 1936. (Times Union Archive) less

Albany Yacht Club. From back of photo: "Three of the 25 motor cruisers built at the Richardson yards in North Tonwanda, after they reached Albany Yacht Club yesterday. Owners 'drive away' their cruisers each ... more

Albany Yacht Club Scene. "Preparing for the ninth annual Albany - New York Marathon. This event was heralded as the 'longest, most glamorous single motor boat event ever held in the U.S.' " Taken April 27, 1936. (Times Union Archive) less

Albany Yacht Club Scene. "Preparing for the ninth annual Albany - New York Marathon. This event was heralded as the 'longest, most glamorous single motor boat event ever held in the U.S.' " Taken April 27, ... more

Albany Riverfront. From caption: "New Look Along The Waterfront. These photos, taken by Staff Photographer Bob Paley from a helicopter. .show the new look on Albany's Hudson River Waterfront." (Times Union Archive) less

Albany Riverfront. From caption: "New Look Along The Waterfront. These photos, taken by Staff Photographer Bob Paley from a helicopter. .show the new look on Albany's Hudson River Waterfront." (Times Union ... more

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Albany Aerial View of Hudson River and rail yard. Taken January 28, 1960. (Times Union Archive)

Albany Aerial View of Hudson River and rail yard. Taken January 28, 1960. (Times Union Archive)

Princes Beatrix of the Netherlands disembarks in Albany during her royal visit Sept. 19, 1959, in Albany, N.Y. (Times Union archive)

Princes Beatrix of the Netherlands disembarks in Albany during her royal visit Sept. 19, 1959, in Albany, N.Y. (Times Union archive)

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Princes Beatrix of the Netherlands arrives in Albany with Mayor Erastus Corning II during her royal visit to Albany Sept. 19, 1959, in Albany, N.Y. (Times Union archive)

Princes Beatrix of the Netherlands arrives in Albany with Mayor Erastus Corning II during her royal visit to Albany Sept. 19, 1959, in Albany, N.Y. (Times Union archive)

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Study identifies what to do, and not do, with 787

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Albany

The 9.4-mile Interstate 787, the route to work for thousands of Capital Region residents, will cost $330 million to keep in a "state of good repair" over the next 20 years. And when it comes time to replace it, the bill will likely be nearly $900 million — the current value of the road — according to the draft final report of the I-787/Hudson Waterfront Corridor Study.

The interstate highway opened nearly 50 years ago, replacing railway tracks along the Albany waterfront with several lanes of concrete and a series of exit ramps and flyovers. It eventually connected the New York State Thruway at Exit 23 with a reconstructed NY Route 7 in Maplewood.

But in recent years, there have been efforts to gain access to the Hudson riverfront, with suggestions ranging from burying the highway, removing it entirely, narrowing it, adding light rail, covering it with platforms that could hold public spaces or new development, and even rerouting part of it west of the City of Watervliet, all of which the study committee considered but chose not to pursue.

Instead, reconfiguring some interchanges, making the waterfront more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians, converting from an expressway to a more traditional roadway, and pursuing strategies to reduce travel demand were identified.

More Information

CHA Consulting prepared the report for the Capital District Transportation Committee. Comments may be emailed to 787waterfrontstudy@cdtcmpo.org with a deadline of April 13.

The final report is expected in June.

Michael Franchini, executive director of the Capital District Transportation Committee, which coordinated the study, said 787 has continued to do what it was designed for "very well," moving 88,000 vehicles a day into downtown Albany from around the Capital Region.

Removing 787 would have forced that traffic onto not only the Northway and Interstate 90, but likely onto local streets as well, Franchini said. And because 787 is also considered a freight highway, that would have meant tractor trailers and other trucks also would be looking for new routes.

Complicating any changes are a set of existing railroad tracks that run for several miles in 787's median, carrying Canadian Pacific freight trains to and from the railroad's Kenwood Yard and the Port of Albany. Much of the interstate also occupies a flood plain, and climate change would make 787 more susceptible to flooding, particularly if the roadway were to be lowered below grade, as one proposal suggested.

The Kenwood Yard and a perpetual easement for the rail line were granted in exchange for taking the railroad's riverfront property for the highway.

"There were a lot of stakeholders in this study, not just CDTC," Franchini added. He said the stakeholders, ranging from the state Department of Transportation, AAA and Amtrak to various cities along the route, including Albany, Watervliet and Cohoes, as well as neighborhood groups, sought to reach consensus on proposals that were reasonable.

Some initiatives already are under way. The Cuomo administration is awarding Albany $3.1 million toward a project to convert a little-used exit ramp into a linear park for pedestrians and bicyclists called the Albany Skyway. The Capital District Transportation Authority meanwhile is in the midst of planning a new Bus Rapid Transit route paralleling 787 that would offer an alternative to commuters.

Planners are accepting public comments, which can be emailed to 787waterfrontstudy@cdtcmpo.org until 5 p.m. April 13. A final report is due in June.

"After that, where's the public opinion? None of these options are cheap," Franchini said. "We did a planning study," he said. The costs will become apparent when and if planners proceed with an engineering study.